Car Registration Fees by State 2024

Vehicles can be expensive. When purchasing a vehicle, one should expect to pay a lot more than just the sticker price. When budgeting for a new car, one should include a down payment, monthly payments, insurance, gas, and registration fees. Because these all vary significantly between states, some states are better to buy cars in than others.

A vehicle registration plate, commonly known as a license plate, is required for every vehicle for identification purposes. A vehicle’s title is a legal document that provides proof of ownership of a vehicle. Every state requires motor vehicles to be registered and title with the state’s transportation agency or department of motor vehicles (DMV). Motor vehicles may not be driven legally if either or both of these are expired. Title fees are typically a one-time expense when the owner purchases the vehicle for the first time. License plate fees are often charged annually and can vary between states. Some states assess a flat fee, while other states assess the registration fee based on vehicle weight, horsepower, or vehicle age.

For example, Colorado assesses the registration fee based on the age and weight of the vehicle. Michigan and assesses registration fee based on the MSRP of the vehicle. Registration fees in Utah are based on the weight of the vehicle. Registration fees in Iowa are based upon the price and weight of the vehicle. Some states may require you to pay an additional registration fee if you own an electric vehicle or a hybrid.

Oregon has the highest registration fees in the U.S.: between $268.50 and $636.50 for new vehicles and $122 and $306 to renew for two years. Florida follows with a new vehicle registration fee of $225. This is a one-time fee, and there are separate additional fees based on the vehicle's weight.

Registration fees following the first fee are $14.50-$32.50. Arizona has the lowest registration fee of $8, but the state adds a $32 public safety fee.

Below is a table of each state’s registration and title fees. States may have specific charges in addition to the registration and title fees below; therefore, you should check your state’s transportation agency or DMV website when determining the total cost of registering your car.

Car Registration Fees by State 2024

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State
Base Registration Fees
License Plate Fee
Title Fee
Additional Fees
IowaUp to 1% of list price (depending on age) plus $0.40 per hundred pounds of vehicle weight$25 for replacement$65 annual EV fee; $32.50 annual plug-in hybrid fee (both rise each year)
ColoradoBased on weight$25$7.20$50 annual fee for plug-in vehicles
MichiganBased on vehicle value or weight depending on age$5$15$135-$235 annual EV fee;$47.50-$117.50 hybrid fee
Illinois$151$150$251 annual EV fee
Maryland$135 to $187 (depending on weight) for two years$10 transfer$100$14.50 annual EMS fee
Oregon$122 to $152 depending on model year and MPG$24.50 new, $6 transfer$98 to $113, depending on model year and MPG$110 annual fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles
Connecticut$120 for a new registration, $80 to renew for two years$5$25$10 admin fee; $10 parks fee; $10 lien fee; $15 parks fee; $40 Emissions Exemption fee; $10 Greenhouse Gas fee
Alaska$100$5 transfer$15$15 lien recording
Oklahoma$96 for a new registration, decreases over time$11 plus $17 transfer feeExcise tax of 3.25% for a new vehicle; for used cars, $20 on the 1st $1,500 of value + 3.25% of the remainder; $10 lien processing fee
Wisconsin$85$4$164.50$10-$30 wheel tax (varies by county);$100 annual EV fee, $75 hybrid fee
Vermont$76 for 1 year; $140 for 2 years$35
Washington$68.25 to $115.25 based on weight$10 per plate$15$75 hybrid fee, $150 annual EV fee
California$64 plus extra fees like CHP and Transportation Improvement$23$23$100 EV fee;$27 CHP fee
Massachusetts$60 for two years$25 transfer, $10 replacement$75
Texas$51.75 plus local fees$28 to $33, depdending on county$90 tax when moving vehicle to Texas
West Virginia$51.50$10 replacement$15$200 annual EV fee, $100 plug-in hybrid fee; $10 lien fee
North Dakota$49 to $274 based on age and weight$5 transfer$5
Idaho$45 to $69, depending on vehicle age$14$140 annual EV fee;$75 plug-in hybrid fee; $5 VIN inspection
Utah$44 for up to 12k pounds; $69.50 for over 12k pounds + $19 for each 2k pounds over 14k$6EV and hybrid fees (increase each year)
Delaware$40$35
South Carolina$40$15$46-$116 Gross Vehicle Weight Fee; $250 infrastructure fee if transferring registration; $60 biennial hybrid fee; $120 biennial EV fee
Kansas$39 to $49, depending upon county$10$20 inspection fee for new title
Pennsylvania$39$55$26 lien fee
North Carolina$38.75$21.50 to transfer$56$130 EVE fee; regional transportation tax in some counties
South Dakota$36-144 based on weight$5 transfer$10Wheel tax (varies by county)
New Jersey$35.50 to $84 based on weight and age of vehicle$6$60 or $85 with lien
Minnesota$35 and up, based on vehicle value$8 (double plates)$20.50 (with tax and technology surcharge)$10 and up wheelage tax; $75 annual EV fee
Maine$35$33
Nevada$33$8$28.25Supplemental Governmental Services Tax based on vehicle value
New Hampshire$31.20 and up based on type and weight plus $10 transfer fee plus local fees$8 + $15 new registration fee$25Local fees based on age and value of vehicle
Ohio$31$6 transfer, $13.25 replacement$15$100 annual fee for hybrid car; $200 fee for EV; optional $5 permissive tax in some counties
Virginia$30.75 for less than 4,000 pounds; $35.75 for over 4,000 pounds$15$64 annual EV fee
Montana$30.57 to $225.24, based on vehicle age, plus a 3% fee$10.30$10.30County option tax based on vehicle value; $10 Montana Highway Patrol fee
Wyoming$30+ (varies by county)$15$200 EV fee
Rhode Island$30 for up to 4000lbs (increases based on weight) + $15 surcharge$8$52.50
New Mexico$27 to $62 based on weight and age of vehicleIncluded ($5)
Tennessee$26.50$95 (includes plate fee)$100 annual EV fee; wheel tax (varies by county)
New York$26 to $140 (based on weight) for 2 years$25$50Vehicle use tax/MCTD fees (NYC and some counties)
Indiana$21.35$9.50$15Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee of $15; excise tax of $12-$532;$150 EV fee; $50 hybrid fee
Kentucky$21$6$22 lien filing fee
Louisiana$20 to $82, depending on value$3 transfer$68.50Use taxes set by parish/county
Georgia$20$18$200 annual alternative-fuel fee
Missouri$18.75 and up (based on taxable horsepower) plus processing fee of $6-$12$8.50$75 annual fee for alt-fuel vehicles; $37.50 for plug-in hybrids
Arkansas$17 to $30$1 transfer$10$2.50 decal fee; 50-cent lien filing fee; extra $100 annual fee for registering a hybrid vehicle and $200 for an EV
Alabama$15 to $23 + $50 annually$23 new, $1.25 transfer$18
Nebraska$15 (+ $5.50 in additional fees)$3.30 per plate$10$5-$30 motor vehicle fee; $75 alt-fuel fee; $7 lien fee
Florida$14.50 to $32.50, plus $225 for new vehicle fee$28 new, $7.35 transfer$75.25 to $85.25
Mississippi$12.75 for renewals, $14 for first time registrations$9%150 EV fee; $75 hybrid fee
Hawaii$12 and up, based on weight$5$5$1 beautification fee; 50-cent emblem renewal
Arizona$8 + $32 Public Safety Fee$12 transfer$4 (for new vehicles)
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Car Registration Fees by State 2024

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